The result of an international competition, New York City's new LED streetlights fulfill the design mandate to minimize visual clutter of New York City streets and become a direct replacement for existing streetlights.

The new minimalist LED design consumes only 95W (a significant energy savings over current 250-watt lamps) and takes on a slim, elongated profile enabled by the tiny size of its light sources, rather than a customary decorative enclosure and bundle of LEDs. Its simplicity merges technology and timeless design making it suitable for both historic and modern cityscapes.

The curving luminaire arc is a direct expression of the linear arrayed LEDs, and houses five lighting modules each containing LED light sources, optical lensing and thermal management. This inventive modular system (developed for the 2004 competition) builds in future flexibility - as technology advances, more efficient modules can be inserted without disposing of the entire luminaire (a common problem with other sustainable luminaires).

The streetlights thin band of glare-free illumination meet strict cut-off requirements and dark sky criteria. The luminaire arc, pole and base interlock with minimal tolerances in the tightly integrated design and push the boundaries of lighting technology. High performance LED optical lenses provide more uniform light distribution than existing streetlights.

The extremely long life of the LED luminaires significantly reduces maintenance, and dark streets as a result of burn outs are far less common increasing community safety and security. Replacing traditional yellow sodium sources, the LED's white light provides a cleaner, brighter appearance more appealing for landscapes, architectural facades and pedestrians.

Achieving significant energy savings at a competitive price point, along with even light distribution and better color rendition - the streetlight design has improved the streetscape experience, providing a safer environment in New York City and setting the bar for future lighting innovation.